Area highways reopen; Slick, snow covered roads cause travel issues across Miami Valley

Slick roads, crashes, and slide-offs have been reported across the region as winter weather continues to push through the region.

>> LIVE DOPPLER 7 RADAR

News Center 7 has been in touch with area troopers, sheriff deputies and police through the day as precipitation has changed from freezing rain and sleet earlier to snow.

ODOT cameras show that highways in Greene County and Montgomery County are already snow covered.

>>PHOTOS: Snow, ice cause crashes across the Miami Valley

>> Local counties issue snow emergencies; What does it mean?

Crashes reported across the area:

• In Shelby County: I-75 southbound was shut down due to a crash involving a jackknifed semi near the 101 mile marker and north of Anna, but has since reopened.
• In Clark County: At 4:40 p.m., I-70 east was shut down near U.S. 40 for a crash, according to ODOT. The highway was reopened by 5:25 p.m.
• In Dayton: Around 4:30 p.m., numerous slide offs and crashes on I-75 between Stanley Avenue and Edwin C. Moses Blvd. Southbound and northbound lanes were closed, but reopened around 5:15 p.m.
• In Greene County: Around 4:20 p.m., a slide off was reported on U.S 35 near Old U.S 35.

>> Winter Weather Awareness: Driving dangers

The conditions in Dayton have caused Dayton police to switch to their Inclement Weather Policy, meaning officers will only respond to high priority calls, a department spokesperson said in a social media post.

The changing precipitation types and dropping temperatures have kept road crews on their toes, and ODOT is again reminding drivers to be cautious.

“(Road crews) are definitely seeing a lot of changing conditions. You’re right this storm is definitely moving quickly. People need to really be careful going on the the roadway, especially to work,” Mandi Dillon, ODOT Public Information Officer told News Center 7 Thursday morning.

Snow plows, salt trucks work to remove snow, slush and sleet from downtown Troy

>>DeWine ‘encouraging Ohioans to avoid’ unnecessary travel during winter storm

If you have to travel to work or make an essential trip, Dillion echoed the message from other ODOT officials, state, and city leaders: slow down and give room to the crews working.

“Make sure that you plan a lot of extra time, there are so many things that are unknown when you get out on the roadways. You’re going to want to go really slow.”

“The other thing is when you see our crews just give them space, stay back and away from the snow pile so that they can get the road clear,” Dillion said.

Poor road conditions have also forced the City of Springfield to suspend operation Thursday of their Springfield City Area Transit bus service, according to a city spokesperson.

Storm Tracker 7 sees snow plows and salt trucks on streets of Troy

“Officials have determined that conditions of area roadways are too hazardous for operations. Bus service is hoped to be restored Friday, Feb. 4, when and if weather conditions improve,” the spokesperson said.

ODOT explains which roadways are prioritized first during winter weather conditions

Dillion added ODOT has a priority list for how they treat the roads, and will hit the more-traveled interstates before moving onto secondary roads.

“We do definitely focus on our priority routes first, and that would be like, the bigger routes—I-75, I-70, the interstate,” Dillon said. “Then of course we go to our secondary routes. “Right now, we have crews that are out there, they’re patrolling in our northern areas, they’re seeing some snow, so they’re definitely putting down that salt and plowing and doing what they can do.”

This story will be updated throughout the winter storm with road conditions as they change across the Miami Valley.

©2022 Cox Media Group